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. The veteran has voted in every general election, including the country’s first in 1952.

Ghatpande, who is among the oldest physicians in the city, exercised his franchise at RCM Gujarati High School close to his home in Kasba Peth on Tuesday. His 74-year-old son Swanand Ghatpande, who is also a doctor, accompanied him to the polling booth.

“I was 37 years old and practising as a doctor at my clinic when I voted during the country’s first general election,” he recalled. Ever since, Ghatpande has voted in every election without fail. “I don’t let my vote go waste,” he said.

Ghatpande underlined the prevailing void in the political discourse. “I have heard speeches by Lokmanya Balgandharva Tilak and many other prominent leaders and writers, including Narasimha Chintaman Kelkar popularly known as Sahityasamrat Tatyasaheb Kelkar, Narhar Vishnu Gadgil (Kakasaheb Gadgil) and Bhai Vaidya, among others. These leaders and their thoughts held a sway on us. There is no such thing now,” he said.

He also expressed concern about the prominence factors such as money and caste have taken in the polls. “Candidates and their supporters are said to circulate money to mobilize votes during campaigning. This was never the case in the past. Besides, polarizing votes purely on the basis of caste has become a norm now,” Ghatpande said.